US20080308979A1 - Composite Sparger - Google Patents
Composite Sparger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080308979A1 US20080308979A1 US12/136,013 US13601308A US2008308979A1 US 20080308979 A1 US20080308979 A1 US 20080308979A1 US 13601308 A US13601308 A US 13601308A US 2008308979 A1 US2008308979 A1 US 2008308979A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sparger
- corrosion resistant
- resistant layer
- thermally conductive
- conductive interlayer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
- C21B7/00—Blast furnaces
- C21B7/16—Tuyéres
- C21B7/163—Blowpipe assembly
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C5/00—Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
- C21C5/28—Manufacture of steel in the converter
- C21C5/42—Constructional features of converters
- C21C5/46—Details or accessories
- C21C5/4606—Lances or injectors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
- F27D3/16—Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C5/00—Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
- C21C5/28—Manufacture of steel in the converter
- C21C5/42—Constructional features of converters
- C21C5/46—Details or accessories
- C21C5/4606—Lances or injectors
- C21C5/462—Means for handling, e.g. adjusting, changing, coupling
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C5/00—Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
- C21C5/52—Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces
- C21C5/5211—Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces in an alternating current [AC] electric arc furnace
- C21C5/5217—Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces in an alternating current [AC] electric arc furnace equipped with burners or devices for injecting gas, i.e. oxygen, or pulverulent materials into the furnace
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
Definitions
- the present invention relates to spargers and, in particular, spargers for use in reactor vessels for corrosive high temperature processes.
- Pressure oxidation in an autoclave typically requires the introduction and dispersion of oxygen gas through a sparger.
- Existing spargers typically include a J-shaped lance extending downwards into the vessel, through the vapour zone and into slurry in the vessel. The lower end of the lance is often curved in a J-shape so as to disperse oxygen below agitators located in the slurry.
- a flanged joint known as a fire break is located near the top of the vessel to prevent fire propagation through the vessel nozzle.
- a difficulty with providing for oxygen sparging is that the environment within the vessel is highly corrosive.
- the sparger is typically constructed of duplex and super-duplex stainless steel alloys or austentic stainless steel.
- existing spargers have a short service life owing to the fact that the material used to create the sparger is subject to corrosion in the environment of the reactor vessel.
- Corrosion resistant materials such as reactive metals like titanium or niobium, are unsuitable for use creating an oxygen sparger since they are highly pyrophoric. Accordingly, use of these materials, while addressing the issue of corrosion, creates a risk of fire.
- the present invention provides a composite sparger for use in elevated temperature and corrosive environments.
- the composite sparger is formed from a thermally conductive non-combustible metal substrate.
- the surfaces of the thermally conductive non-combustible metal exposed to the reactor environment are protected with a corrosion resistant metal layer.
- the corrosion resistant layer protects the substrate material from the corrosive environment of the reactor vessel and the substrate material conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer.
- the substrate material and corrosion resistant material may be selected so as to provide for sufficient thermal conduction to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer.
- the thermally conductive non-combustible material may be an interlayer on the surface of a supporting substrate tube of a different material.
- the substrate tube material may be selected to provide for sufficient material strength within the application environment.
- the present invention provides a sparger for use in a process within a reactor vessel having an inlet nozzle.
- the sparger includes a body having a first end for fluid communication with the reactor vessel and a second end for coupling to a reagent supply, wherein the body includes a substrate tube, a thermally conductive interlayer metal on a surface of the substrate tube, and a corrosion resistant layer atop the thermally conductive interlayer metal, the corrosion resistant layer having an ignition temperature.
- the sparger also includes a flange connected to and extending outwardly from the tube for sealing the sparger to the inlet nozzle.
- the thermally conductive interlayer metal has thermal conductive properties sufficient to maintain the corrosion resistant layer below its ignition temperature.
- the present invention provides a sparger for injecting a reagent into a reactor vessel through an inlet nozzle, the reactor vessel being employed in a process.
- the sparger includes a substrate tube having a surface, a thermally conductive interlayer on the surface of the substrate tube, said thermally conductive interlayer having an outer surface, and a corrosion resistant layer on the outer surface of the thermally conductive interlayer.
- the corrosion resistant layer is applied to the outer surface to protect the thermally conductive interlayer from exposure to the reagent and the process.
- the thermally conductive interlayer conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer.
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sparger inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactor vessel inlet nozzle
- FIGS. 2 ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ) show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of the sparger shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a sparger inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactor vessel inlet nozzle
- FIGS. 4 ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ) show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of the sparger shown in FIG. 3 .
- oxygen spargers Other gases or liquids may be used as reactive oxidants, including hydrazine, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or other suitable oxidants. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to spargers for oxidants and may be embodied in spargers used to disperse other reagents, including, for example, hydrogen or hydrogen sulfide.
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sparger 10 inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 .
- the sparger 10 includes a tube 14 for delivering a reagent, such as oxygen, from a reagent supply (not shown) to the interior 20 of the reactor vessel through the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 .
- the tube 14 includes an outlet end 16 disposed within the interior 20 of the reactor vessel and an inlet end 18 disposed outside the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 .
- the reactor vessel includes a reactor vessel wall 22 having an interior refractory brick lining 26 .
- the interior 20 of the vessel is in fluid communication with the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 , which is formed from an outwardly extending pipe 15 having a refractory brick lining 24 . It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the reactor vessel and the reactor vessel nozzle 12 need not have a refractory brick lining 26 or 24 , respectively.
- the interior 20 of the reactor vessel contains a process fluid, which may be referred to as slurry.
- the interior 20 of the reactor vessel may include a vapour zone above the slurry.
- the slurry may include acids, alkali solutions, halides, and other aggressive and corrosive media.
- the tube 14 is formed from a substrate tube 30 having at least a part of its surface lined with a corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 comprises a thin lining or cladding constructed from a corrosion resistant material.
- surfaces of the substrate tube 30 that may be exposed to the process fluid are protected by the corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- the layer 32 includes exterior lining 40 and interior lining 42 .
- the interior lining 42 extends the entire interior length of the substrate tube 30 .
- the exterior lining 40 is joined with the interior lining 42 at the outlet end 16 of the tube 14 and extends along the exterior surface of the substrate tube 30 at least as far as the end of the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 .
- the end of the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 features a mounting flange 36 .
- the sparger 10 includes a nozzle lap ring 34 formed from the same or similar material as the substrate tube 30 .
- the nozzle lap ring 34 includes a face protected by a clad ring 38 .
- the clad ring 38 may be applied to the nozzle lap ring 34 using an explosion welding (EXW) process.
- EXW explosion welding
- the clad ring 38 , exterior lining 40 , and interior lining 42 are all composed from the same or similar corrosion resistant material, which differs from the substrate material.
- the clad ring 38 is applied to the face of the nozzle lap ring 34 towards the mounting flange 36 .
- the clad ring 38 may be machined to provide for a gasket seat in order to seal the sparger 10 to the mounting flange 36 .
- a first flange backing ring 50 may be bolted to the mounting flange 36 to secure the sparger 10 to the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 and seal the clad ring 38 against the mounting flange 36 .
- the inlet end 18 of the sparger tube 14 includes a second lap ring 44 composed from the same or similar materials as the substrate tube 30 .
- the outer face of the second lap ring 44 is provided with a clad ring 46 composed from the same or similar material as the corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- a second flange backing ring 52 is provided to couple the sparger 10 to a reagent supply line.
- FIG. 2( a ) shows that the interior lining 42 and the exterior lining 40 are joined with a seal weld 70 at the outlet end 16 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 may be applied around the substrate tube 30 as two concentric sleeves with a loose or sliding fit to accommodate differential thermal expansion between the linings 40 , 42 and the substrate tube 30 . Accordingly, an expansion gap 68 may be provided between the welded ends of the interior lining 42 and exterior lining 40 and the end of the substrate tube 30 .
- FIG. 2( b ) shows the clad ring 38 joined to the exterior lining 40 by a seal weld 76 to prevent process fluid from reaching the substrate material in the substrate tube 30 or the nozzle lap ring 34 .
- FIGS. 2( b ) and ( c ) show the lap rings 34 and 44 joined to the substrate tube 30 by way of strength welds 72 and 74 , respectively.
- the strength welds 72 and 74 are created in accordance with applicable codes and standard welding practices.
- FIG. 2( c ) shows the clad ring 46 joined to the interior lining 42 at the inlet end 18 of the sparger 10 by way of a seal weld 78 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 is therefore continuous from the face of the nozzle lap ring 34 , up the exterior of the substrate tube 30 , over into the interior of the substrate tube 30 and down its full interior surface, and terminating at the outer periphery of the second lap ring 44 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 is thus the only material of the sparger 10 in direct contact with the process fluid in the reactor vessel.
- the substrate tube 30 and lap rings 34 and 44 are protected from the process fluid by the corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 may be applied in a relatively thin layer.
- the backing rings 50 , 52 are not exposed to any process fluid and may be formed from any material suitable for pressure boundary service. In one embodiment, the backing rings 50 , 52 are formed from carbon steel.
- bonding processes other than explosion welding may be used to bond the clad rings 38 , 46 to the lap rings 34 , 44 .
- the sparger 10 may be provided with a leak detection port 60 for determining if process fluid has managed to penetrate the corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- the corrosion resistant layer 32 is formed from a reactive metal, such as, for example, niobium, zirconium, titanium, tantalum, and other reactive metals or alloys thereof.
- the corrosion resistant material is thus a material having a high degree of corrosion resistance. It will be appreciated that such materials also have a significant degree of pyrophoricity.
- the substrate tube 30 and lap rings 34 , 44 are formed from a material having high thermal inertia and a low burn ratio, as explained further below.
- the substrate material serves to conduct heat away from a potential ignition site in the corrosion resistant material. Accordingly, the substrate is protected from the corrosive effects of the process fluid by the corrosion resistant material and the substrate material prevents ignition of the corrosion resistant material due to the thermal properties of the substrate. In the circumstances wherein a burning promoter material, such as sulfur, ignites at the surface of the corrosion resistant layer 32 , the substrate material may conduct heat away from the combustion site preventing propagation of the combustion.
- a burning promoter material such as sulfur
- the substrate material is selected such that it has thermal properties sufficient to conduct heat at a rate adequate to maintain the corrosion resistant layer below the ignition threshold of the corrosion resistant material, even in presence of burning promoter material. With substrate material having sufficient thermal conductivity, the sparger 10 becomes self-extinguishing, allowing safe use of the sparger 10 in enriched oxygen service environments.
- the substrate material has the physical properties of conductivity k, density ⁇ , and specific heat capacity c p .
- the product of these three properties gives the thermal inertia of the substrate material. The higher the value of the thermal inertia, the more resistant a material is to ignition or combustion.
- a burn ratio may also be defined for the substrate material.
- the burn ratio comprises the ratio between heat evolved during oxidation to heat required to melt an equivalent amount of material.
- the substrate material having appropriate thermal conductive properties may be selected on the basis of the thermal inertia and burn ratio of the material.
- the substrate material is selected such that it has a thermal inertia ⁇ 13 (J/cm 2 ⁇ K) 2 ⁇ s and a burn ratio ⁇ 2.0.
- suitable substrate materials that meet these criteria include the following alloy families: coppers (with a designated minimum copper content of 99.3% and are considered essentially unalloyed copper), high-copper alloys (alloys having 94-99.3% copper content), brasses (in particular, copper-zinc brasses), bronzes, copper-nickel alloys (alloys that contain nickel as the principal alloying element and can include the Alloy 400 series of oxygen-compatible alloys), and copper-nickel-zinc alloys (commonly termed “nickel silvers”), as well as other special or copper-containing alloys. Such materials also provide reasonably good strength, elasticity, formability, and weldability.
- the substrate material used is Alloy 400, which is a nickel-copper alloy identified under the Unified Numbering system as number N04400.
- the corrosion resistant material may be selected on the basis of its high electrochemical nobility. Certain corrosion resistant materials form a tenacious metal oxide that, once formed, inhibits further corrosion of the material.
- Appropriate corrosion resistant material includes reactive metals, including in some embodiments niobium, zirconium, and titanium.
- the cladding material is formed from tantalum or a tantalum alloy. Tantalum and tantalum alloys provide resistance to both oxidizing and reducing acids, such as H 2 SO 4 and HCl and have electrochemical resistance to stress induced chloride cracking, pitting, and crevice corrosion in the presence of halides.
- the corrosion resistant material may include stainless steel, austentic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super-duplex stainless steel, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy, or nickel-molybdenum alloys of the “B” and “C” nickel alloy family.
- the minimum thickness of the substrate tube 30 may be determined from classical stress analysis, such that the primary membrane stress (circumferential or hoop stress) is less than 70% of the yield stress of the selected substrate material or the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected substrate material.
- the minimum required thickness of the lap rings 34 , 44 may be determined from classical stress analysis or finite element method (FEM) such that the primary membrane plus bending stress is less than the yield stress of the selected material, or 1.5 times the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected material.
- FEM finite element method
- the minimum required weld reinforcement size may be determined by classical stress analysis or FEM such that the primary membrane, plus bending, plus localised secondary stresses do not exceed the ultimate tensile stress of the selected material or three times the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected material.
- the minimum thickness of the corrosion resistant layer 32 is determined by corrosion testing and/or fabrication and welding experience with the selected corrosion resistant material.
- the maximum thickness of the corrosion resistant layer may be determined by either classical one-dimensional, transient thermal diffusion calculations in cylindrical co-ordinates or by transient FEM.
- the maximum corrosion resistant layer thickness may be calculated such that the rate of heat transfer to the substrate material is greater than the net heat generated by combustion of the corrosion resistant material, and the localised surface temperature of the corrosion resistant material at a hypothetical combustion site is less than the ignition temperature of the corrosion resistant material. Material availability and practical constraints may determine the selected corrosion resistant layer thickness, provided it falls between these maximum and minimum limits.
- the sparger may be inserted through a nozzle in the underside of a reactor vessel directly into the process fluid or slurry, it will be appreciated that the sparger may be inserted through a nozzle in the side, top or other portion of the vessel and may be placed in either the liquid or vapour zone of the vessel.
- the substrate material may be unsuitable because of its lack of rigidity.
- electrolytic tough pitch copper has desirable thermal conductivity properties, but lacks the material strength, creep resistance and rigidity at elevated temperatures to serve as the substrate tube 30 in the sparger 10 .
- FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sparger 100 inserted into a reactor vessel through the reactor vessel inlet nozzle 12 .
- FIGS. 2 ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ) each show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of the sparger 100 shown in FIG. 3 .
- the sparger 100 includes the substrate tube 30 formed from a material having sufficient material strength to meet the requirements of a given application environment.
- Suitable materials for the substrate tube 30 may include stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys, nickel-molybdenum alloys, copper-zinc brasses, bronzes, copper-nickel alloys, and copper-nickel-zinc alloys.
- the sparger 100 has a thermally conductive interlayer 31 on at least a portion of its outer and inner surface below the corrosion resistant layer 32 .
- the interlayer 31 is formed from a thermally conductive material that has thermal properties sufficient to conduct heat at a rate adequate to maintain the corrosion resistant layer 32 below the ignition threshold of the corrosion resistant material, even in presence of burning promoter material. With the interlayer 31 having sufficient thermal conductivity, the sparger 100 becomes self-extinguishing, allowing safe use of the sparger 100 in enriched oxygen service environments.
- the material that forms the thermally conductive interlayer 31 has the physical properties of conductivity k, density ⁇ , and specific heat capacity c p .
- the product of these three properties gives the thermal inertia of the material. The higher the value of the thermal inertia, the more resistant a material is to ignition or combustion.
- a burn ratio may also be defined for the interlayer 31 material.
- the burn ratio comprises the ratio between heat evolved during oxidation to heat required to melt an equivalent amount of material.
- the interlayer 31 material having appropriate thermal conductive properties may be selected on the basis of the thermal inertia and burn ratio of the material.
- the material for the interlayer 31 is selected such that it has a thermal inertia ⁇ 13 (J/cm 2 ⁇ K) 2 ⁇ s and a burn ratio ⁇ 2.0.
- one process for manufacturing the sparger 100 is co-extrusion, wherein the substrate tube material is extruded within the interlayer 31 material through a single die. The resulting co-extruded tube is then assembled with the corrosion resistant layer 32 and other parts as described above.
Abstract
Description
- The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/661,910, filed Mar. 1, 2007, which is the U.S. national stage of international application serial no. PCT/CA2004/001610, filed Sep. 1, 2004, both of which are incorporated by reference herein as part of the present disclosure.
- The present invention relates to spargers and, in particular, spargers for use in reactor vessels for corrosive high temperature processes.
- Hydrometallurgical processes to extract metal values from ore, such as pressure oxidation and pressure oxidative leaching, take place in specialized reactor vessels, such as an autoclave. Pressure oxidation in an autoclave typically requires the introduction and dispersion of oxygen gas through a sparger. Existing spargers typically include a J-shaped lance extending downwards into the vessel, through the vapour zone and into slurry in the vessel. The lower end of the lance is often curved in a J-shape so as to disperse oxygen below agitators located in the slurry. A flanged joint known as a fire break is located near the top of the vessel to prevent fire propagation through the vessel nozzle.
- A difficulty with providing for oxygen sparging is that the environment within the vessel is highly corrosive. To avoid combustion of the sparger, the sparger is typically constructed of duplex and super-duplex stainless steel alloys or austentic stainless steel. Unfortunately, existing spargers have a short service life owing to the fact that the material used to create the sparger is subject to corrosion in the environment of the reactor vessel.
- Corrosion resistant materials, such as reactive metals like titanium or niobium, are unsuitable for use creating an oxygen sparger since they are highly pyrophoric. Accordingly, use of these materials, while addressing the issue of corrosion, creates a risk of fire.
- There does not appear to be a material that is both suitably corrosion resistant and non-combustible. Accordingly, there remains a need for a sparger capable of operating under elevated temperature and corrosive conditions.
- The present invention provides a composite sparger for use in elevated temperature and corrosive environments. The composite sparger is formed from a thermally conductive non-combustible metal substrate. The surfaces of the thermally conductive non-combustible metal exposed to the reactor environment are protected with a corrosion resistant metal layer. The corrosion resistant layer protects the substrate material from the corrosive environment of the reactor vessel and the substrate material conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer. The substrate material and corrosion resistant material may be selected so as to provide for sufficient thermal conduction to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer.
- In one embodiment, the thermally conductive non-combustible material may be an interlayer on the surface of a supporting substrate tube of a different material. The substrate tube material may be selected to provide for sufficient material strength within the application environment.
- In one aspect, the present invention provides a sparger for use in a process within a reactor vessel having an inlet nozzle. The sparger includes a body having a first end for fluid communication with the reactor vessel and a second end for coupling to a reagent supply, wherein the body includes a substrate tube, a thermally conductive interlayer metal on a surface of the substrate tube, and a corrosion resistant layer atop the thermally conductive interlayer metal, the corrosion resistant layer having an ignition temperature. The sparger also includes a flange connected to and extending outwardly from the tube for sealing the sparger to the inlet nozzle. The thermally conductive interlayer metal has thermal conductive properties sufficient to maintain the corrosion resistant layer below its ignition temperature.
- In another aspect the present invention provides a sparger for injecting a reagent into a reactor vessel through an inlet nozzle, the reactor vessel being employed in a process. The sparger includes a substrate tube having a surface, a thermally conductive interlayer on the surface of the substrate tube, said thermally conductive interlayer having an outer surface, and a corrosion resistant layer on the outer surface of the thermally conductive interlayer. The corrosion resistant layer is applied to the outer surface to protect the thermally conductive interlayer from exposure to the reagent and the process. The thermally conductive interlayer conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer.
- Other aspects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
- Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the present invention, and in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sparger inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactor vessel inlet nozzle; -
FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c) show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of the sparger shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a sparger inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactor vessel inlet nozzle; and -
FIGS. 4 (a), (b), and (c) show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of the sparger shown inFIG. 3 . - Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar components.
- The following description of one or more specific embodiments of the invention does not limit the implementation of the invention to oxygen spargers. Other gases or liquids may be used as reactive oxidants, including hydrazine, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or other suitable oxidants. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to spargers for oxidants and may be embodied in spargers used to disperse other reagents, including, for example, hydrogen or hydrogen sulfide.
- Reference is first made to
FIG. 1 , which shows a cross-sectional view of asparger 10 inserted into a reactor vessel through a reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12. Thesparger 10 includes atube 14 for delivering a reagent, such as oxygen, from a reagent supply (not shown) to theinterior 20 of the reactor vessel through the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12. Thetube 14 includes anoutlet end 16 disposed within theinterior 20 of the reactor vessel and aninlet end 18 disposed outside the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12. - The reactor vessel includes a
reactor vessel wall 22 having an interiorrefractory brick lining 26. Theinterior 20 of the vessel is in fluid communication with the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12, which is formed from an outwardly extendingpipe 15 having arefractory brick lining 24. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the reactor vessel and thereactor vessel nozzle 12 need not have arefractory brick lining - During a hydrometallurgical process, at least a portion of the
interior 20 of the reactor vessel contains a process fluid, which may be referred to as slurry. Theinterior 20 of the reactor vessel may include a vapour zone above the slurry. In some embodiments, the slurry may include acids, alkali solutions, halides, and other aggressive and corrosive media. - The
tube 14 is formed from asubstrate tube 30 having at least a part of its surface lined with a corrosionresistant layer 32. The corrosionresistant layer 32 comprises a thin lining or cladding constructed from a corrosion resistant material. In particular, surfaces of thesubstrate tube 30 that may be exposed to the process fluid are protected by the corrosionresistant layer 32. Accordingly, thelayer 32 includesexterior lining 40 andinterior lining 42. Theinterior lining 42 extends the entire interior length of thesubstrate tube 30. Theexterior lining 40 is joined with theinterior lining 42 at theoutlet end 16 of thetube 14 and extends along the exterior surface of thesubstrate tube 30 at least as far as the end of the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12. - The end of the reactor
vessel inlet nozzle 12 features amounting flange 36. Thesparger 10 includes anozzle lap ring 34 formed from the same or similar material as thesubstrate tube 30. Thenozzle lap ring 34 includes a face protected by aclad ring 38. Theclad ring 38 may be applied to thenozzle lap ring 34 using an explosion welding (EXW) process. Theclad ring 38, exterior lining 40, andinterior lining 42 are all composed from the same or similar corrosion resistant material, which differs from the substrate material. Theclad ring 38 is applied to the face of thenozzle lap ring 34 towards the mountingflange 36. Theclad ring 38 may be machined to provide for a gasket seat in order to seal thesparger 10 to the mountingflange 36. A firstflange backing ring 50 may be bolted to the mountingflange 36 to secure thesparger 10 to the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12 and seal theclad ring 38 against the mountingflange 36. - The
inlet end 18 of thesparger tube 14 includes asecond lap ring 44 composed from the same or similar materials as thesubstrate tube 30. The outer face of thesecond lap ring 44 is provided with aclad ring 46 composed from the same or similar material as the corrosionresistant layer 32. A secondflange backing ring 52 is provided to couple thesparger 10 to a reagent supply line. - Reference is now made to
FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c), which each show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of thesparger 10 shown inFIG. 1 .FIG. 2( a) shows that theinterior lining 42 and theexterior lining 40 are joined with aseal weld 70 at theoutlet end 16. The corrosionresistant layer 32 may be applied around thesubstrate tube 30 as two concentric sleeves with a loose or sliding fit to accommodate differential thermal expansion between thelinings substrate tube 30. Accordingly, anexpansion gap 68 may be provided between the welded ends of theinterior lining 42 andexterior lining 40 and the end of thesubstrate tube 30. -
FIG. 2( b) shows theclad ring 38 joined to theexterior lining 40 by aseal weld 76 to prevent process fluid from reaching the substrate material in thesubstrate tube 30 or thenozzle lap ring 34. -
FIGS. 2( b) and (c) show the lap rings 34 and 44 joined to thesubstrate tube 30 by way of strength welds 72 and 74, respectively. The strength welds 72 and 74 are created in accordance with applicable codes and standard welding practices. -
FIG. 2( c) shows theclad ring 46 joined to theinterior lining 42 at theinlet end 18 of thesparger 10 by way of aseal weld 78. - The corrosion
resistant layer 32 is therefore continuous from the face of thenozzle lap ring 34, up the exterior of thesubstrate tube 30, over into the interior of thesubstrate tube 30 and down its full interior surface, and terminating at the outer periphery of thesecond lap ring 44. The corrosionresistant layer 32 is thus the only material of thesparger 10 in direct contact with the process fluid in the reactor vessel. Thesubstrate tube 30 and lap rings 34 and 44 are protected from the process fluid by the corrosionresistant layer 32. The corrosionresistant layer 32 may be applied in a relatively thin layer. - The backing rings 50, 52 are not exposed to any process fluid and may be formed from any material suitable for pressure boundary service. In one embodiment, the backing rings 50, 52 are formed from carbon steel.
- It will be understood that bonding processes other than explosion welding may be used to bond the clad rings 38, 46 to the lap rings 34, 44.
- The
sparger 10 may be provided with aleak detection port 60 for determining if process fluid has managed to penetrate the corrosionresistant layer 32. - The corrosion
resistant layer 32 is formed from a reactive metal, such as, for example, niobium, zirconium, titanium, tantalum, and other reactive metals or alloys thereof. The corrosion resistant material is thus a material having a high degree of corrosion resistance. It will be appreciated that such materials also have a significant degree of pyrophoricity. - The
substrate tube 30 and lap rings 34, 44 are formed from a material having high thermal inertia and a low burn ratio, as explained further below. - The applicants have noted that the substrate material serves to conduct heat away from a potential ignition site in the corrosion resistant material. Accordingly, the substrate is protected from the corrosive effects of the process fluid by the corrosion resistant material and the substrate material prevents ignition of the corrosion resistant material due to the thermal properties of the substrate. In the circumstances wherein a burning promoter material, such as sulfur, ignites at the surface of the corrosion
resistant layer 32, the substrate material may conduct heat away from the combustion site preventing propagation of the combustion. - The substrate material is selected such that it has thermal properties sufficient to conduct heat at a rate adequate to maintain the corrosion resistant layer below the ignition threshold of the corrosion resistant material, even in presence of burning promoter material. With substrate material having sufficient thermal conductivity, the
sparger 10 becomes self-extinguishing, allowing safe use of thesparger 10 in enriched oxygen service environments. - The substrate material has the physical properties of conductivity k, density , and specific heat capacity cp. The product of these three properties gives the thermal inertia of the substrate material. The higher the value of the thermal inertia, the more resistant a material is to ignition or combustion.
- A burn ratio may also be defined for the substrate material. The burn ratio comprises the ratio between heat evolved during oxidation to heat required to melt an equivalent amount of material.
- The substrate material having appropriate thermal conductive properties may be selected on the basis of the thermal inertia and burn ratio of the material. In one embodiment, the substrate material is selected such that it has a thermal inertia13 (J/cm2·K)2·s and a burn ratio2.0. The applicants have noted that suitable substrate materials that meet these criteria include the following alloy families: coppers (with a designated minimum copper content of 99.3% and are considered essentially unalloyed copper), high-copper alloys (alloys having 94-99.3% copper content), brasses (in particular, copper-zinc brasses), bronzes, copper-nickel alloys (alloys that contain nickel as the principal alloying element and can include the Alloy 400 series of oxygen-compatible alloys), and copper-nickel-zinc alloys (commonly termed “nickel silvers”), as well as other special or copper-containing alloys. Such materials also provide reasonably good strength, elasticity, formability, and weldability. In one embodiment, the substrate material used is Alloy 400, which is a nickel-copper alloy identified under the Unified Numbering system as number N04400.
- The corrosion resistant material may be selected on the basis of its high electrochemical nobility. Certain corrosion resistant materials form a tenacious metal oxide that, once formed, inhibits further corrosion of the material. Appropriate corrosion resistant material includes reactive metals, including in some embodiments niobium, zirconium, and titanium. In one embodiment, the cladding material is formed from tantalum or a tantalum alloy. Tantalum and tantalum alloys provide resistance to both oxidizing and reducing acids, such as H2SO4 and HCl and have electrochemical resistance to stress induced chloride cracking, pitting, and crevice corrosion in the presence of halides. In other embodiments, the corrosion resistant material may include stainless steel, austentic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super-duplex stainless steel, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy, or nickel-molybdenum alloys of the “B” and “C” nickel alloy family.
- The minimum thickness of the
substrate tube 30 may be determined from classical stress analysis, such that the primary membrane stress (circumferential or hoop stress) is less than 70% of the yield stress of the selected substrate material or the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected substrate material. The minimum required thickness of the lap rings 34, 44 may be determined from classical stress analysis or finite element method (FEM) such that the primary membrane plus bending stress is less than the yield stress of the selected material, or 1.5 times the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected material. The minimum required weld reinforcement size, as measured across the throat of the fillet, may be determined by classical stress analysis or FEM such that the primary membrane, plus bending, plus localised secondary stresses do not exceed the ultimate tensile stress of the selected material or three times the allowable working stress permitted by Code for the selected material. - The minimum thickness of the corrosion
resistant layer 32 is determined by corrosion testing and/or fabrication and welding experience with the selected corrosion resistant material. The maximum thickness of the corrosion resistant layer may be determined by either classical one-dimensional, transient thermal diffusion calculations in cylindrical co-ordinates or by transient FEM. The maximum corrosion resistant layer thickness may be calculated such that the rate of heat transfer to the substrate material is greater than the net heat generated by combustion of the corrosion resistant material, and the localised surface temperature of the corrosion resistant material at a hypothetical combustion site is less than the ignition temperature of the corrosion resistant material. Material availability and practical constraints may determine the selected corrosion resistant layer thickness, provided it falls between these maximum and minimum limits. - Although the foregoing figures and description depict an embodiment wherein the sparger is inserted through a nozzle in the underside of a reactor vessel directly into the process fluid or slurry, it will be appreciated that the sparger may be inserted through a nozzle in the side, top or other portion of the vessel and may be placed in either the liquid or vapour zone of the vessel.
- In some cases, it may be desirable to use a substrate material that has excellent thermal conductive properties, but that has inadequate material strength properties to serve as the
substrate tube 30. In certain high temperature applications, the substrate material may be unsuitable because of its lack of rigidity. For example, electrolytic tough pitch copper has desirable thermal conductivity properties, but lacks the material strength, creep resistance and rigidity at elevated temperatures to serve as thesubstrate tube 30 in thesparger 10. Accordingly, in some embodiments, it may be necessary for the substrate tube to be formed from a rigid tube with a thermally conductive interlayer applied to its surface below the corrosionresistant layer 32. - Reference is now made to
FIG. 3 andFIGS. 4(i a), (b), and (c).FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asparger 100 inserted into a reactor vessel through the reactorvessel inlet nozzle 12.FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c) each show enlarged portions of the cross-sectional view of thesparger 100 shown inFIG. 3 . - In this embodiment, the
sparger 100 includes thesubstrate tube 30 formed from a material having sufficient material strength to meet the requirements of a given application environment. Suitable materials for thesubstrate tube 30 may include stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys, nickel-molybdenum alloys, copper-zinc brasses, bronzes, copper-nickel alloys, and copper-nickel-zinc alloys. - The
sparger 100 has a thermallyconductive interlayer 31 on at least a portion of its outer and inner surface below the corrosionresistant layer 32. Theinterlayer 31 is formed from a thermally conductive material that has thermal properties sufficient to conduct heat at a rate adequate to maintain the corrosionresistant layer 32 below the ignition threshold of the corrosion resistant material, even in presence of burning promoter material. With theinterlayer 31 having sufficient thermal conductivity, thesparger 100 becomes self-extinguishing, allowing safe use of thesparger 100 in enriched oxygen service environments. - The material that forms the thermally
conductive interlayer 31 has the physical properties of conductivity k, density , and specific heat capacity cp. The product of these three properties gives the thermal inertia of the material. The higher the value of the thermal inertia, the more resistant a material is to ignition or combustion. - A burn ratio may also be defined for the
interlayer 31 material. The burn ratio comprises the ratio between heat evolved during oxidation to heat required to melt an equivalent amount of material. - The
interlayer 31 material having appropriate thermal conductive properties may be selected on the basis of the thermal inertia and burn ratio of the material. In one embodiment, the material for theinterlayer 31 is selected such that it has a thermal inertia 13 (J/cm2·K)2·s and a burn ratio 2.0. - In this embodiment, one process for manufacturing the
sparger 100 is co-extrusion, wherein the substrate tube material is extruded within theinterlayer 31 material through a single die. The resulting co-extruded tube is then assembled with the corrosionresistant layer 32 and other parts as described above. - The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims (21)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/136,013 US7976774B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2008-06-09 | Composite sparger |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CA2004/001610 WO2006024128A1 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2004-09-01 | Composite sparger |
US66191008A | 2008-02-05 | 2008-02-05 | |
US12/136,013 US7976774B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2008-06-09 | Composite sparger |
Related Parent Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/661,910 Continuation-In-Part US7968048B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2004-09-01 | Composite sparger |
PCT/CA2004/001610 Continuation-In-Part WO2006024128A1 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2004-09-01 | Composite sparger |
US66191008A Continuation-In-Part | 2004-09-01 | 2008-02-05 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080308979A1 true US20080308979A1 (en) | 2008-12-18 |
US7976774B2 US7976774B2 (en) | 2011-07-12 |
Family
ID=40131546
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/136,013 Active 2026-05-16 US7976774B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2008-06-09 | Composite sparger |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7976774B2 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120230895A1 (en) * | 2011-03-08 | 2012-09-13 | Seyoum Sertsai A | Sour natural gas sparger |
TWI496218B (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2015-08-11 | Semiconductor Energy Lab | Method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
CN104894336A (en) * | 2015-05-22 | 2015-09-09 | 武汉钢铁(集团)公司 | Insertion type molten iron slagging-off air blowing spray gun |
WO2020139555A1 (en) * | 2018-12-26 | 2020-07-02 | Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company | Retractable nozzle for refractory-lined equipment |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3849587A (en) * | 1973-10-15 | 1974-11-19 | Hatch Ass Ltd | Cooling devices for protecting refractory linings of furnaces |
US4023676A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1977-05-17 | Armco Steel Corporation | Lance structure and method for oxygen refining of molten metal |
US4687053A (en) * | 1982-11-26 | 1987-08-18 | Fr. Kammerer Gmbh | Heat exchanger panel and manufacturing method thereof |
US4898368A (en) * | 1988-08-26 | 1990-02-06 | Union Carbide Corporation | Wear resistant metallurgical tuyere |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5939505B2 (en) * | 1982-05-18 | 1984-09-25 | 株式会社黒木工業所 | Tuyere surface treatment method |
CA1219385A (en) | 1983-08-22 | 1987-03-17 | Ajit K. Chowdhury | Submerged oxygen inlet nozzle for injection of oxygen into wet oxidation reactor |
US5952111A (en) | 1997-04-30 | 1999-09-14 | Masco Corporation | Article having a coating thereon |
US6358483B1 (en) | 1999-07-13 | 2002-03-19 | The Standard Oil Company | Sparger for oxygen injection into a fluid bed reactor |
SE518803C2 (en) | 1999-09-03 | 2002-11-26 | Chematur Eng Ab | Method and reaction system with high pressure and high temperature suitable for supercritical water oxidation |
FR2802216A1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | Lorraine Carbone | HANDLING DEVICE FOR CORROSIVE CHEMICALS |
FI109233B (en) | 2000-02-23 | 2002-06-14 | Outokumpu Oy | Heat sink and method for making the heat sink |
CA2462114C (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2006-10-31 | Hatch Ltd. | Insulating inserts for elevated temperature process vessels |
-
2008
- 2008-06-09 US US12/136,013 patent/US7976774B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3849587A (en) * | 1973-10-15 | 1974-11-19 | Hatch Ass Ltd | Cooling devices for protecting refractory linings of furnaces |
US4023676A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1977-05-17 | Armco Steel Corporation | Lance structure and method for oxygen refining of molten metal |
US4687053A (en) * | 1982-11-26 | 1987-08-18 | Fr. Kammerer Gmbh | Heat exchanger panel and manufacturing method thereof |
US4898368A (en) * | 1988-08-26 | 1990-02-06 | Union Carbide Corporation | Wear resistant metallurgical tuyere |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TWI496218B (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2015-08-11 | Semiconductor Energy Lab | Method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
US20120230895A1 (en) * | 2011-03-08 | 2012-09-13 | Seyoum Sertsai A | Sour natural gas sparger |
CN104894336A (en) * | 2015-05-22 | 2015-09-09 | 武汉钢铁(集团)公司 | Insertion type molten iron slagging-off air blowing spray gun |
WO2020139555A1 (en) * | 2018-12-26 | 2020-07-02 | Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company | Retractable nozzle for refractory-lined equipment |
US11369986B2 (en) * | 2018-12-26 | 2022-06-28 | ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company | Retractable nozzle for refractory-lined equipment |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7976774B2 (en) | 2011-07-12 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Ramkumar et al. | Effects of filler metals on the segregation, mechanical properties and hot corrosion behaviour of pulsed current gas tungsten arc welded super-austenitic stainless steel | |
US7976774B2 (en) | Composite sparger | |
JP2012141127A (en) | Corrosion-resistant exterior alloy for composite tubes | |
Bhaumik et al. | Failure of reformer tube of an ammonia plant | |
CN108568462A (en) | A kind of compound straight-seam pipes of bimetal metallurgy and its manufacturing method | |
CN108637518A (en) | A kind of welding groove and welding method of petroleum gas composite delivery pipeline | |
ZA200506952B (en) | Method of protecting equipment against corrosion at high temperature | |
RU2215655C2 (en) | Method of manufacture of two-layer laminated element from stainless steel, tw0-layer laminated element, method of protection against corrosion, method of functional restoration of chemical equipment and chemical equipment | |
US9777922B2 (en) | Submerged combustion burners and melters, and methods of use | |
US7968048B2 (en) | Composite sparger | |
Nuttall et al. | An assessment of materials for nuclear fuel immobilization containers | |
JP2007169733A (en) | Alloy for corrosion resistant coating and member coated therewith | |
US2818995A (en) | Vessel with protective metal lining | |
US8281976B2 (en) | Method of making multi-component composite metallic tube | |
US10364475B2 (en) | Wear-resistant, single penetration stave coolers | |
JPS6138789A (en) | Portal structure and manufacture thereof | |
US10870898B2 (en) | Stave cooler with common coolant collar | |
EP3710768B1 (en) | Wear resistant single penetration stave coolers | |
CN217927727U (en) | Bimetal composite pipeline | |
Jennings | Corrosion by hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid | |
JP7220843B2 (en) | PRESSURE REACTION APPARATUS HAVING NOZZLE OF CORROSION-RESISTANT AND WEAR-RESISTANT STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME | |
JP2002139190A (en) | Heat-resistant and wear-resistant bend pipe and manufacturing method therefor | |
Gupta et al. | Failure Analysis of Basic Oxygen Furnace Lance Head Assembly | |
CN206626319U (en) | A kind of corrosion-resistant bellows expansion joint | |
Philipp | Longer Lifecycles with Duplex Stainless Steels and Innovative Concepts of Combining Different Materials |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HATCH LTD., CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FRASER, KEVIN;PEARSON, MURRAY;REEL/FRAME:021461/0712;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080812 TO 20080813 Owner name: HATCH LTD., CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FRASER, KEVIN;PEARSON, MURRAY;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080812 TO 20080813;REEL/FRAME:021461/0712 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552) Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: 11.5 YR SURCHARGE- LATE PMT W/IN 6 MO, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1556); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 12 |